Electrical switch for cylinder type vacuum cleaners



Nov. 4, 1952 H. A. KROENLEIN 2,616,114

ELECTRICAL swncu FOR CYLINDER TYPE VACUUM CLEANERS Filed May 31, 1945 EE- HENRYAKR ENLE/N Patented Nov. 4, 1952 ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR- CYLINDER TYPE VACUUM CLEANERS Henry A. Kroenlein, Rives Junction, Mich., as-

signor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 31, 1945, Serial No. 596,919

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in electric vacuum cleaner constructions of the so-called cylinder type. Such cleaners conventionally have an elongated housing which contains the filter, air pump and motor and are horizontally disposed when in use with wheels or skids attached to the housing. When being used, cleaners of this type are drawn across the floor by the operator pulling upon the suction hose attached to one end of the elongated housing.

In cleaners of the type described, it has been the practice heretofore to mount the electrical switch for the motor on the elongated housing, usually at its uppermost position where it may be conveniently actuated by the foot. With this arrangement the operator is unable to turn the motor on and ofi from the point of operation, namely, at the nozzle end of the suction hose. As a result it is necessary to take several steps back to the housing in order to operate the switch. This is time consuming and a somewhat inconvenient act, especially to the housewife. During the normal use of a domestic vacuum cleaner of the type herein being considered, the

vacuum motor is frequently turned on and ofi while the cleaner is being used.

According to the present invention the aforesaid inconvenience has been materially overcome by'distributing the Weight of the elongated housing difierently, and relocating the motor switch in such a manner that the switch may be turned off and on by the operator from the nozzle end o'f'the suction hose by manipulating the hose in such a manner that the housing is tilted and the switch actuated.

Thus one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner of the type described having the operation of the motor controlled through manipulation of the hose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new combination of a cylinder type vacuum cleaner having an electric switch so located that the switch may be turned on and off by tilting the cleaner housing through manipulation of the vacuum hose.

A still further object is to provide an improved vacuum sweeper of the type described in which the weight of the cleaner has been so distributed that it may be readily tiltable through manipulation of the suction hose in order to control the operation of the electric motor.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved vacuum cleaner construction and electric switch arrangement,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the housing construction shown in two positions of operation, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Electric vacuum cleaners of the type with which the present invention is particularly concerned comprise a nozzle portion I0, a suction hose I2, a housing I4 in which is located a filter bag I 6, an air pump I8, and an electric motor 20.

In lieu of mounting the electrical switch for turning the motor 20 on and oii on top of the housing I4 in the conventional manner, according to the present invention the electrical switch 22 is so located that when the housing I4 is tilted around the wheels 24 as a fulcrum, the switch is actuated.

The switch 22 can be of any conventional construction of the type which is depressed first to turn the switch on and then turned off on the next depression i. e. the switch is the so-called push-push type. As shown the switch 22 com prises a sheet metal actuating portion 26 hinged at 28 with a spring 30 holding the same extended as shown in full line in Fig. 2. A force against the member 26 rocking the same counterclockwise around the pivot 28 results in the plunger 32' being actuated to either turn the motor 20 on or to turn the same off.

It will be understood that the air pump and motor 20 constitute the major portion of the weight of the housing I4. By locating the wheels 24 slightly to one side of the center of mass of the entire assembly, a deliberate jerking movement of the hose I2 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 will result in the housing I4 being tilted, bringing the member 26 into engagement with the floor to actuate the plunger 32 to either turn the motor 20 on or off, depending on the particular portion of the cycle of operation. Forward swivel wheels 34 support the front end of the housing I4.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description that the operator working at the nozzle end can either turn on or ofi the motor 20 by merely moving the hose I2 upward sufliciently to tilt the housing I4 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be appreciated that a sudden flip of the hose I2 causing a vertical wave to be transmitted therealong will be in a position to snap the electrical switch 22 on and 01f as desired.

To those skilled in the art it will be readily apparent that numerous types of electrical switches actuated through the tilting of the housing 14 will suggest themselves. Accordingly, it is my desire, to not only specifically claim, the location of the electric switch in the manner illustrated in combination with the tilting of the housing H, :but to also broadly include within the scope of the present invention, other forms of electrical switches actuated through the tilt. ing of the housing [4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the housing [4 is equipped with an electrical switch 22 at the rear end thereof and in a position to engage with the floor for actuation on tilting of the housing 14. In lieu of the wheel structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a suitable skid 36 has been provided and so-located that the distribution of weight and fulcruming action is the same as was described with reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood that by elevating the housing 14' through the hose I 2,", the "electrical switch 2-2" can be turned oif and on by the tilting action of the housing l4 about the fulcrum point 38.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to cover by Letters Patent and claim is:

1 In a suction cleaner; a casing housing a filter, a suction pump and an electric motor for driving said pump; means for supporting said casing; a suction hose connected to said casing forming a manipulating element for moving said casing about a supporting surface on said supporting means and for tilting said casing about a'portion of said supporting means as a fulcrum, a control switch mechanism of the push-push type for energizing and de-energizing said motor, actuating means on said, casing for operating said switch'projecting below said casing in position to .be moved into contact with a supporting surface to apply operating pressure to said switch mechanism when said casing is tilted about said portion of said supporting means,

2. In asuction cleaner; a casing housing a filter and an electric motor driven suction, pump, surface engaging supporting means on said casing terminating short of one end, of said casing, a-suction hose connected to said casing and providing a manipulating element for moving said casing on said supporting means and for tilting said casingabout the. portion of said supportin means, nearest said one end of said casing as; a fulcrum, a control switch forenergizing and de-. izing said motor driven pump, an actuating mechanism for said switch of the type which operates said switch to open and closed circuit posi tions in response to successive applications of pressure applied to said mechanism, and means movably mounted on said casing between said one end thereof and said fulcrum and projecting below said casing to be moved into contact with asupporting surface to apply operating pressure to said actuating mechanism when said casing is tilted about said part of said supporting means as a fulcrum.

3., Ina suction cleaner; a casing housing a filter, a suction pump and an electric motor for driving said pump; means for supporting said casing for movement in a normal cleaning position on a supporting surface, a suction hose connected to said casing forming a manipulating element for moving said casing about a supporting surface on said supporting means and for tilting said casing away from said normal cleaning position about a I portion of said supporting means as a fulcrum, meansforming an energizing circuit for-said motor including a control switch carried by said casing and having closed and open circuit cont-rolling positions for energizing and de-energizing said motor respectively, mechanism operative in response to successive applications of force thereto for successively operating said switch to said open and closed circuit controlling positions, an actuating member movably mounted on said casing operative in response to each predetermined tilting movement of said casing about said portion of said supporting means away from said normal cleaning position toimpart an operating force to said mechanism and said switch being of the type which is stable in each of said circuit controlling positions except as modified by said actuating member.

HENRY A. KROENLEIDL,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in. the. file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

